Top Returners: Big East North

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Lena June 12, 2020 @ 02:58 PM

Top Returners: Big East North Below is a list of the top returning standout prospects in the Big East- North conference. Leading the conference last season was Mischicot. The team finished with a 17-2 record. Monona Grove finished with the same conference record as well. The five other teams in this conference consist of Saint Mary Catholic, Manitowoc Lutheran, Hilbert, Elkhart Lake- Glenbeulah and Reedsville. 1. [player_tooltip player_id="132363" first="Kylie" last="Schmidt"] | Mishicot | Junior | 6’0 SF Schmidt led the conference this season in scoring. An athletic post player who can play inside and out, Schmidt impacts the game with her ability to score the ball. She creates space for herself and uses her body well to shield away defenders. She averaged 18.8 points per game during her junior season. She’s a scrappy post player that is super athletic and can play inside and out. She can handle the ball but knows how to use her height to get a shot off inside. She developed a perimeter shot as well and I’d look for her to be a threat from the three this summer and next season. A rebounding specialist as well, Schmidt averaged 10.5 rebounds per game. Schmidt is committed to Division II Purdue Northwest. 2. [player_tooltip player_id="155415" first="Mackenzie" last="Holzwart"] | Monona Grove | Junior | 5’7 PG A triple threat for her team, Holzwart is a workhorse on the floor. She plays with so much intensity and is super relentless each possession. Holzwart finished second in the entire conference for scoring and first for her team. She averaged 15.6 points per game. She’s a great facilitator for her team and thread the needle passer. She has a great eye for her teammates and uses her ball handling skills to get the open pass. She averaged 3.6 assists per game. On defensive she is scrappy. She has good hands and ability to grab steals in transition and with her on-ball pressure. She averaged 4.2 steals per game 3. Laney Halbach | Hilbert | Sophomore | 6’0 F Halbach has been an impact player for Hilbert the past two seasons. She plays with patience and poise on the floor. A great leader for her team as well, Halbach isn’t shaken by pressure. A strong post player who can run the floor in transition and has a smooth release mid-range. Halbach finished first in scoring for her team during her sophomore season. She averaged 15.2 points per game. A great offensive rebounder as well, Halbach added nearly 7 boards per game. Look for Halbach to become even stronger in the lane and become more effective blocking shots for her team. She finished her sophomore season with 12 blocks. 4. Maddy Near | Howards Grove | Junior | 5’11 F Is Maddy Near the most versatile player in her conference? Near is super dynamic for Howards Grove and has proved how she can impact the game in so many ways. On offense she can use her dribble drive to get to the basket and finish with contact. She can handle the ball and is much faster than other post players that defend her. She can push the ball in transition as well. Near works well with her back to the basket and can score in the lane and finish strong. She averaged 13.6 points per game for her team. A valid rebounder as well, Near does a great job boxing out and chasing the board. She added nearly 7 rebounds per game as well. A quick post player that can guard multiple positions on the floor, Near proved she can alter the game with her scrappy defense. She added 53 steals for her team this season. 5. Desiree Kleiman | Mishicot | Junior | 6’0 SF The junior standout has an impressive combination of size and skill that make her such an impactful prospect. She uses her length to better her game on both ends of the floor. On offense she can score the ball so well in the lane. She’s a great high-low player and thrives off that mid-range jumper and drop step on the block. She added 11.6 points per game for her team. She developed her perimeter confidence late this season and I’d look for her to become more range effective this summer and next season. A smart passer for her team this season, Kleiman added 2.8 assists per game. She is committed to Division II Minnesota State Mankato.